​​Strega's Pearls ​Remedies and Recipes

Breasts are the extension of our hearts. When we hug one another we touch everyone with our breasts. We are physically loving with them to our babies, husbands, and friends all the time. Our breast health typically mirrors that nature of loving ourselves and others in giving and receiving. We find it hard to keep a balance when it comes to loving others and ourselves. We tend towards giving more than we receive. In our culture we are in a constant flow of giving and sometime we are guilt-ed into this state of imbalance. Susan Weed describes this well in her book Breast Cancer? Breast Health! Keeping Our Breasts HealthyWe can keep our breasts healthy by remembering to love ourselves enough and take time to care for our bodies, minds, and spirits. This week carve out a few minutes to give your breast a massage. Massaging your breasts brings much needed circulation to a fat dense area. Our breast are mostly made of lymphatic tissue, fat and milk producing glands. But what else is in there? I remember after nursing I lost all of the fat in my breasts and felt so much less of a women. I called my breasts two skin tabs just floating there with nothing to fill them. This process happened so quickly that I did not have time to adjust to and keep loving myself in the face of my new emaciated body. I was embarrassed and did not want anyone to touch them for a while, not my babies, or husband. I wanted my body to be my own. I needed to start loving myself again, taking responsibility for my definition of self care. Doing what truly nourished me so I could have the ability to love my new momma body. The first thing I did was put on some much needed weight. I started to practice yoga in the morning and bought myself a new to me bicycle. I also started breast massage and lymphatic skin brushing daily. ​Making just these few changes gave me new strength for my family too. I became happier and healthier.Breast massage is simple and only takes a few minutes every day for a self care techinque that can actually be life saving. Dense breasts can get congested. Massage keeps the energy flow moving. Breast congestion includes cyst formation or fibrocystic breast syndrome and premenstrual breast tendernessHerbs for lymphatic flow and balance​Red Root Ceanothus spp

is rich in a powerful antibiotic and anti-tumor bitter called usnic acid and is also immune-strengthening

Poultices

used for breast congestion for mastitis

cabbage leaves, calendula, comfrey leaves, burdock leaves, poke

dipping breasts in a strong tea

basil, calendula, comfrey, rose, ginger

fibrocystic breasts

plantain, calendula, violet, dandelion blossoms (also oil)

Nourishing and TonifyingDandelion Root Taraxacum officinale

specific for cysts, lumps, growths, and abnormal cells in the breasts. This addresses the liver

Calendula internally and externallyBurdock Arctium lappa

anti-cancer reverses pre -cancers, resolves chronic skin problems

fresh root binds to heavy metals and toxins

can be used for years

Breast Self Examination

While standing and looking in the mirror, raise your hand over your head and press them together. Notice the shape of your breasts. Place your hands on your hips, apply pressure, and look for dimpling of the skin, nipples that seem to be out of position, one breast that looks different from the other or red scaling or thickening of the skin and nipples.

Raise one arm above your head. With the other hand, firmly explore your breast. Beginning at the outer edge, using a circular motion, gradually work toward the nipple. Take your time wherein examining the area between the nipple and the armpit, and feel the armpit as well. You have lymph nodes in the armpit: they move freely and feel soft, and are not painful to the touch. Look for lumps that are hard and not mobile. Cancers are often attached to underlying muscle or the skin.

Lie down on your back and repeat step 2. Lumps may be more easily detected in this position also squeeze each nipple to check for blood or a watery yellow or pink discharge.

RecipeBreast OilDandelion Flowers Fresh 1 partFenugreek 1/2 partBladderwrack 1/2 partCalendula 1 part1 part can equal 1 TBL or 1 cup depending on how much you want to make This oil if for congestion and stagnation.Put all the herbs together and cover by one inch with sesame or olive oil. You can also use a blend of oils. Place together and blend in blender. Pour into a mason jar and put in a water bath double boil keeping it between 110-120 degrees. Cook for about 6 hours or more strain with muslin or cheese cloth and store in glass in a cool dark place.